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Project Chat

The project chat is your central communication hub for all project-related discussions. Use it to coordinate with clients, ask questions, and share updates.

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Accessing Project Chat

  1. Navigate to your project
  2. Click the “Chat” tab
  3. View the conversation thread
Or click the chat icon in the header to quickly access messages.

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Who’s in the Chat?

Depending on the project, participants may include:
ParticipantRole
YouExpert working on the project
ClientProject owner and stakeholders
Platform OpsFlexDuty team member managing the project
Account ManagerFor enterprise clients
Other ExpertsIn multi-expert projects

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Chat Features

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Sending Messages

  • Type your message and press Enter or click Send
  • Use Shift+Enter for new lines within a message
  • Messages are timestamped and show sender info

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File Sharing

  • Click the attachment icon to share files
  • Drag and drop files directly into chat
  • Supported: Images, PDFs, documents, code files
  • Max file size: 25MB per file

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Mentions

Tag specific people to get their attention:
  • Type @ followed by their name
  • They’ll receive a notification
  • Use @channel to notify everyone (sparingly)

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Code Blocks

Share code with proper formatting: 
Use triple backticks for code blocks:

\`\`\`python
def example():
    return "Hello"
\`\`\`

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Best Practices

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Do

Keep all project communication in the chat
Be professional and courteous
Provide context when asking questions
Confirm understanding of requests
Update on progress regularly

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Don’t

  • Don’t share sensitive data outside the platform
  • Don’t take conversations to personal email
  • Don’t spam the chat with unnecessary messages
  • Don’t use inappropriate language
  • Don’t discuss other clients or projects

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Communication Cadence

FrequencyWhat to Share
DailyBrief progress update on active work
WeeklySummary of accomplishments and next week’s plan
MilestoneDetailed update when completing major deliverables
BlockerImmediately when you encounter obstacles

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Response Times

  • During business hours: Respond within 4-8 hours
  • Questions from clients: Same business day when possible
  • Urgent issues: As soon as possible

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Message Types

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Progress Updates

📊 **Daily Update - October 10**

Completed today:
- Finished port scanning phase
- Documented 3 critical findings
- Started web application testing

Tomorrow:
- Continue web app testing
- Begin draft report

Hours logged: 6

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Questions

❓ **Question about Scope**

I noticed the scope mentions testing "all public-facing applications."
Can you clarify if this includes the mobile API endpoints at
api.company.com?

Thanks!

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Blockers

🚧 **Blocker Alert**

I'm unable to proceed with the internal network testing because
the VPN credentials provided are not working.

Error message: "Authentication failed - invalid certificate"

Can you please check with IT and provide updated credentials?
This is blocking approximately 20 hours of planned work.

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Internal Notes

Some projects have internal notes visible only to platform ops and admins:
  • Experts cannot see internal notes
  • Used for platform coordination
  • Clients may have separate internal discussions

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Escalation via Chat

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When to Escalate

  • Client is unresponsive for >48 hours
  • Scope disagreement
  • Payment issues
  • Technical access problems
  • Professional conduct concerns

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How to Escalate

  1. Tag @Platform Ops or @Account Manager in the chat
  2. Clearly describe the issue
  3. State what resolution you’re seeking
  4. Platform team will respond and mediate

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Multi-Expert Chats

In projects with multiple experts:
  • Be respectful of others’ contributions
  • Coordinate to avoid duplicate work
  • Share relevant findings that affect others
  • Use @mentions to direct messages to specific people

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Notifications

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Managing Notifications

Control how you’re notified:
  • In-app notifications (always on)
  • Email notifications (configurable)
  • Browser push notifications (optional)
To adjust: Go to Settings > Notifications

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Do Not Disturb

If you need focus time:
  • Use your chat client’s DND feature
  • Let clients know your availability hours
  • Respond to urgent matters even during DND

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Chat History

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Accessing History

All chat history is preserved and accessible:
  • Scroll up to see older messages
  • Use search to find specific conversations
  • Export chat history if needed (contact support)

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Importance of Documentation

Chat creates a record that:
  • Protects both parties in disputes
  • Provides context for platform ops
  • Documents agreements and changes
  • Serves as project history
Everything in project chat may be reviewed by platform ops. Keep it professional and on-topic.

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Troubleshooting

  • Check internet connection
  • Refresh the page
  • Try a different browser
  • Contact support if persistent
  • Check notification settings
  • Verify email isn’t in spam
  • Enable browser notifications
  • Check Do Not Disturb isn’t enabled
Participants are added based on project role. If someone should be added, contact platform ops.

Project Files

Sharing and managing project files

Deliverables

Submitting work for review